THE AUCKLAND GOLD FIELD.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 685, 6 November 1852, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND GOLD FIELD.

The intelligence which we were enabled lo communicate in our lost number gave an encouraging representation of the prospects of the gold-diggers, which subsequent accounts have more than confirmed. A report from Mr. Heaphy, of the Survey Department, lias been received by his Excellency the Lieutcnanl-Govornor, which describes the success of l he parties engaged in the field, especially of Mr. Coolahan's parly, as very promising. A considerable number of nuggets had been found, one of which was said to be as large as the top of a finger. Mr. Burgess, the pilot, who has arrived from Covonmndel, also corroborates the favourable intelligence; and the expectation of a paying gold-field be- j comes stronger on eacli new arrival, i although a lull trial cannot be said c\en yet to have been made. Much of ihe working is not steady, systematic, or skilful. In a letter we have seen, it is said of some of the parlies, " they looked about them, halfwashcfl a dish or two, and finding no nuggets went away disgusted." The endeavour to remove masses of rocks, which obstructed the diggers in many places, is also very laborious lo small parlies. A writer on the spot observes, "It is dreadful hard work without mechanical aid ; we have to lift, up | rocks of two tons weight, and to bale out I the water standing up fo our knees in it; the weather is, however, more than usually unfavourable." j The genera! conclusion from all we have learned since Wednesday is, thai the grounds for anticipating that a really valuable Gold Field has been discovered, are more clear and reliable than before; although further investigation will be necessary before the fact can be considered established. WcwaiUhcrcfore,wilh much interest, for additional information. Meanwhile we may mention that, amongst the rumours which have reached town, one is that the Messrs. Dc Thierry have found good diggings in a valley behind Te Mania, near the Frith of the Thames, and are working there with great success;— another is, that a specimen of gold discovered near Mercury Bay had been brought by a native lo Captain Drury of 11. M. S. Pandora. It is reported thai the Natives in the locality of Coromandel arc becoming more alive to the importance of the treasure likely to be derived from their lands, and that they now arc disposed lo urge that some arrangement may be made without delay lo secure to them a participation in its advantages. There has not, we believe, been anything in their tone to excite appprehension of an unfriendly feeling; but we arc told that, while they arc quite willing thai the panics already on the ground should continue to prospect so as to ascertain the extent and value of the gold-field, I hey arc not equally willing that an indefinite number of diggers should ! pour in to appropriate to themselves riches for which they — the original owners of the soil — receive no compensation. This we take lo mean that, with the shrewd insight ! into their own interests which has been a marked feature of their advancing civilization, they wish that the Pakeha should bring to light the riches hidden in the soil, but that then the Maori should without delay obtain the compensation to which he is entitled. We do not sec what valid objection can be brought against the reasonableness of this requirement. It is not to be expected that when the natives arc assured of the value of the gold-field, they should be conlent thai strangers should crowd upon it to enrich themselves without making any compensation to the rightful proprietors of the land in which it is discovered ; and we trust thai, with as much haste as is consistent with good speed, the Government will lake steps lo satisfy their just claims. - It needs no argument lo prove that this is emphatically a case in which delay may be dangerous, and that, should the yield of gold continue to increase, every day will probably augment rather than diminish the difficulty of arranging the terms. At the same lime, we would remark that our solicitude on this point is greatly lessened by the assurance that the Government have no other intention or desire than to deal with the natives in this matter in an equitable and liberal spirit. It is to be regretted that there should be any, especially any in a position of influence, who would advocate the driving of a hard bargain with the natives on this occasion ; and if we had not long ago learned how much of miserable selfishness sometimes conceals itself behind the mask of ostentatious patriotism, we should marvel exceedingly that even one could be found who — after having dubbed himself preeminently a champion of the rights of our Maori fellow-subjects, and clamorously contended against the maintenance of any restriction upon their liberty lo dispose of their lands jnst us they please, and when and to whom they please, so as to conduce most to what they may deem their advantage — would now urge the Government to screw them down to the lowest amount of compensation they could be brought to accept, and would plead as a reason for this sordid policy that they omjhl not lo be put in possession of so much money as might accrue from their receiving a liberal share on the license-fees. This would be but a sorry mode of carrying out either the letter or the spirit of the Treaty of Wailangi, which the faith of the British Crown and the honour of the British Empire are deeply [and sacredly pledged lo obsene ! Bui we have no fear that our Colonial Go\ernmcul, or the m;ij jorily of our Colonial Legislature, will act j meanly or unjustly in the case. They will, we are confident, pursue a line of conduct which will bear upon its wery part the broad and legible character of equity

towards the natives ; and then, having made no miserly attempt to beguile or coerce them into any surrender of their property without a fair equivalent, should the natives unfortunately prove impracticable, and make demands to which it would be impossible to accede, — (an event of which we have no apprehension provided they be equitably and judiciously treated), — the Government will Ime the approbation and support of England in any steps which such an exigency may render necessary to secure — what we presume, must be secured, whatever effort or sacrifice it may cost — the liberty to work the Gold Field by all who comply with prudently framed and duly authorised regulations.

We have heard that renewed attention has been directed to the importation of cattle into this district, and indeed that it is probable that even now a cargo of live stock may be on the point of leaving Sydney for this port. We cannot but wish success to such an enterprise, considering the increased demand which must arise should the influx of population to be anticipated from an available gold-field lake place, and considering also several attempts to establish a monopoly hy buying up all the procurable cattle in the district which we have heard complaints of from several quarters, and in consequence of which we are told that the army contractor has experienced much difficulty in Qblaining the supplies required by his engagement. The pasture is now so abundant that a much larger amount of stock than is at present running npon it might be fed and fattened with great ease and profit.

A Government Gazelle was issued yesterday evening. It contains a number of Notifications and Returns which we need not enumerate in detail here, as the principal contents will be found transferred in full to the last page of this sheet.